Articles tagged with Neurons
Researchers have gained new understanding of how brain cells are formed and controlled by a key molecule miR-9, which is linked to brain development and function. This study could help explain what happens when cell production goes out of control in diseases like cancer.
New research sheds light on how environmental stressors affect the cells of the developing brain, leading to conditions like schizophrenia and post-traumatic stress disorder. Yale scientists discovered a single molecular trigger, HSF1, that activates in brain cells exposed to toxins, making them susceptible to neuropsychiatric disorders.
Research found that nestin+ neurons project to the olfactory bulb and show compensatory function in the medial septum-diagonal band of Broca. Nestin+ cholinergic neurons may have stronger tolerance to injury than non-cholinergic neurons.
Researchers at UC Irvine's Sue & Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center found that bone marrow stem cells significantly improved multiple outcome measures in animal studies of stroke. The effects were robust regardless of dosage, timing, or method of administration.
Researchers at the Salk Institute discovered that BRCA1 plays a crucial role in creating healthy brains in mice, potentially explaining why some women with breast cancer experience brain seizures. The study found that eliminating BRCA1 led to significant neural damage and abnormalities in brain development.
The BRAIN Initiative aims to map all cell types in the brain, develop methods for large-scale recordings of neuronal activity, and advance computational methods to understand patterned neural activity. The ultimate goal is to shed light on disease processes and suggest new therapeutic approaches.
Researchers at Scripps Research Institute discover a dual-sensor system for the sense of touch, involving Merkel cells and nerves. The study provides new insights into how gentle touch sensations are detected by the skin.
Researchers have solved part of the hagfish slime mystery, revealing how super-strong protein threads are organized at the cellular level. The discovery provides valuable insights into producing synthetic versions of the threads for commercial use.
The Allen Mouse Brain Connectivity Atlas provides a comprehensive wiring diagram of the mammalian brain, revealing specific patterns in connections between brain regions and varying connection strengths. The atlas offers unparalleled details into how structures are connected inside the brain.
Researchers develop a protein that facilitates control of nerve cells by light, increasing sensitivity and enabling precise activation of selected cells. This technology, called optogenetics, holds promise for studying diseases like epilepsy and Parkinson's.
A UCLA study found that increasing Kir4.1 levels in astrocytes improves walking and prolongs survival in a mouse model of Huntington's disease. The discovery could lead to new drug targets for treating the devastating disorder, which affects one in every 20,000 Americans.
Researchers found that the circadian clock network in fruit flies consists of many independent clocks, each driving activity rhythms. This organization may also apply to mammals, with implications for alleviating adverse effects associated with circadian disorders.
Researchers derived stem cell lines from people with bipolar disorder to study brain cell development and behavior. The comparison revealed specific differences in gene expression, neuron development, and response to lithium, which may lead to new treatment options and personalized medicine.
Researchers found CaM Kinase II plays a significant role in controlling neuropeptide release from neurons, affecting learning, memory, social behaviors, and mood. The study's findings could lead to future therapies targeting altered mood and memory in humans.
Researchers found that the initial stage of autophagy is not directly related to the composition of the Beclin-1 complex. Instead, other mechanisms are likely involved in inducing autophagy. This study highlights the complexity of autophagy regulation and challenges current understanding of its role in neurodegenerative diseases.
A new mathematical model predicts where different types of neurons are located in the brain based on their molecular identity. This approach enables scientists to draw an increasingly accurate map of neuronal distribution in the brain.
Researchers have successfully reprogrammed rat astrocytes into neurons using Mash1, a transcription factor. This method avoids malignant transformation and offers a promising therapeutic strategy for neural regeneration.
Research in mice suggests that autism is characterized by reduced inhibitory neuron activity and increased excitatory neuron activity, but low doses of certain anxiety medications can restore balance. This finding provides a potential new treatment strategy for managing core autistic deficits.
A new study published in The Journal of Neuroscience found that extended wakefulness can result in neuronal injury and loss of brain cells, particularly in the locus coeruleus (LC) neurons. Chronic sleep loss may be more serious than previously thought and may even lead to irreversible physical damage.
Researchers have found a way to slow down the formation of amyloid plaques, a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease, by rescuing the Golgi structure in cells. By inhibiting an enzyme or expressing a mutant protein, the researchers were able to decrease harmful Abeta secretion by 80 percent.
Researchers at UCSF found a specialized brain circuit that fires more strongly in response to movement, allowing the visual system to work better while walking or running. This discovery could have implications for human vision and navigation.
A team of researchers found that differences in response kinetics dictate differential sensitivity to different features of pulsatile hormone inputs. The study explored the mechanism underlying dynamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) signalling using live cell imaging and mathematical modelling.
Researchers at North Carolina State University discovered that altering the surface characteristics of a semiconductor material can significantly impact how neural cells grow. The study used gallium nitride and PC12 cells to mimic neural behavior, finding varying degrees of cell adhesion and growth on different textured surfaces.
A study published in Neural Regeneration Research found that iron overload exacerbates oxidative stress injury in neural cells under high glucose concentration. The Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway plays a crucial role in this process, suggesting novel therapeutic strategies for diabetic peripheral neuropathy.
A team of researchers from Duke-NUS Medical School discovered a protein complex that disrupts dedifferentiation, a process promoting tumor development. This breakthrough has implications for understanding neural stem cells and developing future cancer therapies.
Researchers uncover an entire network of cellular helpers to mitigate damage, identifying new regulatory mechanisms for the heat shock response. The study's findings may also offer insights into neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
Researchers discovered 3D plumes of brain activity propagating through the avian brain, differing from mammalian slow-wave-sleep patterns. This finding suggests alternative computational properties and challenges the layered organization assumption.
Researchers at UC San Diego discovered that direction-sensing cells in the retina send signals to the cortex, enabling brains to process directional movements. The study has practical implications for understanding and treating disabilities related to motion processing.
A yeast model of Alzheimer's disease has identified a drug candidate, clioquinol, that reduces amyloid-β levels by 90% and restores cellular protein-trafficking. The mechanism of action involves chelating copper, which makes Aβ more toxic.
Researchers have uncovered a complex emergency program designated to save single cells and thus the organism itself when exposed to life-threatening conditions. The protein HSF1 plays a central role in coordinating this process.
Researchers at Oxford University identified a key molecular component of the brain's sleep switch in fruit flies, which may also apply to humans. The discovery could lead to new targets for novel drugs to improve sleep disorders treatment.
Researchers found that a 25-minute daily visual training program improved the players' acuity and peripheral vision. This resulted in better on-field performance, including reduced strikeout rates and increased runs scored.
Researchers at KAIST developed K-Glass, a wearable HMD with an augmented reality (AR) processor that works like human vision, improving power efficiency and speed. The processor enables efficient AR experiences in various environments, including outdoor spaces without barcodes or markers.
A three-year study published in Neuroscience reveals how loud sound damage affects myelin, the protective sheet around cells, and its correlation to auditory signals failing to transmit during hearing loss. Understanding this link can help develop strategies to prevent or alleviate deafness or tinnitus symptoms.
Researchers discovered that a well-known protein UPF1 controls the biological circuit to determine whether an immature neural cell remains in a stem-like state or becomes a functional neuron. The study's findings have significant implications for developing new therapies for neurological disorders such as autism and schizophrenia.
Research in zebrafish reveals that loss of brain asymmetry can significantly impact sensory processing. The study found that reversed brain asymmetry resulted in functional changes to habenular neurons, while double-sided brains lacked responsiveness to certain stimuli.
Researchers found that oxytocin, the birth hormone, naturally reduces chloride levels in neurons, controlling the expression of autistic syndrome. Administering a diuretic treatment before birth corrects abnormal chloride levels and restores brain activity to normal levels.
Researchers found that Eph receptors must form groups of three or four to become active, with the ratio of multimers to inactive dimers determining repulsion strength. This understanding can guide cell migration and growth, shedding light on diseases related to guidance system breakdowns.
Researchers found that a protein molecule on stem cells interacts with extracellular matrix and thyroid hormones to promote brain growth. Iodine deficiency in pregnant women can lead to abnormal brain development due to the lack of thyroid hormones.
Stanford researchers have solved a riddle about the inner workings of the brain, revealing a previously unknown process that helps two brain regions cooperate when joint action is required. The study used a new approach to analyze large numbers of neurons and discovered that different regions of the brain keep results localized or broa...
Researchers at European Molecular Biology Laboratory identify microglia cells as major players in brain wiring and behavior. Mice with fewer microglia display weaker connections between neurons and repetitive behaviors associated with autism spectrum disorders.
A study published in Nature Neuroscience suggests that abnormal gene expression resulting from DNA relaxation can be detected in the brain and blood of Alzheimer's patients. The researchers propose that drugs modifying DNA structure may be beneficial for treating Alzheimer's disease, paving the way for epigenetic-based therapies.
Researchers discover that Ataxin-7 anchors a key module in the SAGA complex, which regulates thousands of genes. Without Ataxin-7, this module becomes overactive, leading to misregulation of genes and neurodegeneration in fruit flies.
Researchers at Max Planck Institute found that GDNF promotes the survival of mitochondria, preventing degeneration associated with a Parkinson's-related gene defect. This discovery could lead to more refined GDNF therapies for patients.
A team of researchers at Caltech has identified a new neural circuit in the lateral septum that plays a causal role in promoting anxiety states. Activation of this circuit increases stress hormone levels, suggesting that it acts to increase anxiety rather than reduce it.
Researchers compared ventrolateral frontal cortex connectivity in humans and monkeys, finding many similarities in language and complex thought processes. The study suggests that some uniquely human traits may rely on an evolutionarily conserved neural apparatus.
Researchers found that epsilon toxin from Clostridium perfringens kills brain's myelin-producing cells and targets other cells associated with MS inflammation. The toxin may be responsible for triggering MS in genetically susceptible individuals.
A study published in Nature Neuroscience reveals that non-CpG methylation occurs later and more dynamically in neurons than previously thought, acting as a system of gene regulation. This finding challenges the long-held idea that once genes are silenced by methylation, they remain so forever.
A team of researchers from Caltech identified specific brain cells in male fruit flies that release a hormone promoting aggression. These findings suggest that aggression is genetically controlled and may be linked to personality disorders in humans. The study validates the use of fruit flies as a model for studying human aggression.
City of Hope researchers discovered that breast cancer cells can masquerade as neurons, allowing them to hide from the immune system and spread to the brain. The study found that these cancer cells exploit the brain's chemicals and proteins to deceive the immune system.
Researchers at UC Riverside have discovered how the common fruit fly detects sweet compounds, revealing a new understanding of taste receptors in insects. The study's findings hold promise for developing strategies to block these receptors, potentially helping to control disease-carrying mosquitoes and other pests.
Researchers have discovered a novel method of treating traumatic brain injury by stimulating 'caretaker cells' to reduce swelling. The treatment, using compounds like 2-methylthio-ADP and MRS2365, has shown promise in reducing edema and prolonging the life of neurons.
Researchers from McGill University have identified two transcription factors controlling the expression of genes involved in GBM tumourigenesis. Impairing these proteins could significantly reduce the ability of brain tumour-initiating cells to give rise to brain tumors.
Researchers at Hebrew University deciphered the mode by which neurotransmitter inhibitors work, raising hopes for new and effective drugs for brain disorders. The study used baker's yeast as a model and identified flexible domains in the structure of the vesicular monoamine transporter (VMAT) responsible for tetrabenazine binding.
Researchers at NYSCF and Columbia University Medical Center successfully generated iPS cells from frozen brain tissue, allowing for the study of Alzheimer's disease at a cellular level. The new stem cell lines will enable drug testing on cells from patients with confirmed diagnoses.
Researchers at the Gladstone Institutes found that mutant LRRK2 accumulation leads to cell death in Parkinson's neurons, and that alpha-synuclein plays a crucial role in this process. By understanding the interplay between these two proteins, scientists may develop new therapeutic strategies to target the disease's underlying mechanisms.
Scientists have found odor receptors in lung tissue that can detect cigarette smoke and other irritants, triggering a response to constrict airways. These receptors, called pulmonary neuroendocrine cells, may be responsible for the chemical hypersensitivity characteristic of respiratory diseases such as COPD.
A study reveals that elevated LINE-1 retrotransposition in the brain may contribute to schizophrenia. Abnormal activity of these DNA sequences is thought to disrupt normal gene function, leading to the development of the disorder.
Researchers found that computer users make broader generalizations when it comes to movement learning. Computer-naive individuals converted their generalization patterns after just two weeks of intensive mouse use, suggesting that computer use fundamentally affects neural representation of movements.
A study published in Neuron found that the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) is active when the brain isn't working hard and quiets down during peak performance. The PCC plays a crucial role in monitoring performance and improving it, particularly in challenging cognitive tasks.